Billie Burril Simmons

Billie Burril Simmons, formerly of Bismarck, Missouri passed away August 30, 2023, in Herculaneum, Missouri at the age of 93 years. She was born July 27, 1930, in Republic, Missouri the daughter of the late Burril and Lena Mae (Schmidt) Miller. Billie was a very independent woman who worked hard all her life. She was the mother of eight children. She earned her GED when she was thirty-eight years old and then earned a B.A. in Social Work from Southeast Missouri State University. She worked for Iron County Division of Family Services for many years with the end of her career working as a hotline worker. After Billie retired, she stayed active. She enjoyed working in her yard and growing flowers. She had a green thumb and had a beautiful yard with many varieties of flowers. Billie loved meeting people and was quite extroverted. She liked to talk and never met a stranger. She was also a straightforward individual – “If she said it, she meant it”. Billie is survived by seven of her children: Donna Olsen and husband, Paul of Pecatonica, Illinois, Carolyn Kalkbrenner and husband, Carl of Arkansas, Michael Tackett, and wife, Yasuka of Tokoyo, Japan, Cheryl Hendrix of Edgar Springs, Missouri, Kenneth Tackett and wife, Mary of Springfield, Missouri, Lin Cheung and husband, William of Oakville, Missouri, and Mary Oberreither of Eldon, Missouri. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Diana Haynes. Billie is also survived by a brother; Stephen Miller of Zion, Illinois, a sister; Marcia McCreary of Ocala, Florida, twenty-one grandchildren, thirty-seven great grandchildren, and six great great grandchildren as well as a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. In addition to her parents and daughter, Billie was preceded in death by her husbands, Lester Tackett, and Wayne Simmons. Two sisters preceded her: Linda Warren and Sue Cox, one brother: Larry Joe Miller and two infant brothers, and two granddaughters. Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 8, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at Bryson Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will begin at 12:00 Noon prior to the service. Interment will be in Arcadia Valley Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.